Photo Source: http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/news-content/revolutionizing-food-in-richmond

Many of you learned more about Edible Education and our Richmond Food Revolution Day which was held last month. Thanks to Jamie Oliver’s mission to change how kids eat in schools, they have both changed how kids and adults see food!

Ann Butler is the owner and founder of Edible Education, and hands-on cooking school that comes to you. As a former High School Culinary Arts teacher, Ann understood the importance of food education but wanted to make a significant change in the way kids eat, so she started Edible Education and took fresh food culinary lessons to the younger kids. Two years and 8,000 kids later, Edible Education is honored to be part of the Food Revolution Day Celebration throughout the year.

And Edible Education was a big part of this year’s revolution!

• The Food Revolution Day 2013 events began with a Kids Jr. Chef Cooking Competition at Kitchen Thyme where local celebrity chefs were mentors and judges for kids entering the contest to create great food with – the mystery ingredient – Spinach. Kids from 6 – 14 embodied the competitive spirit and designed on their own – spectacular dishes from Most Colorful Dish – spinach salad with edamame and zucchini side stir-fry to the Best Dish award going to Spinach and Shrimp Pasta Primavera. Parents were delighted to observe from the side lines, enjoying spinach lasagna.
  
• Day 2 took Edible Education chefs into the elementary schools where, you guessed it, 400 students made their own spinach and strawberry salads. Classes were located next to the school gardens where students understood the connection between growing gorgeous foods and preparing and of course eating them.
• The Food Revolution Day activities continued through Saturday with more salad making and the enjoyment of a 5k race at Fisher Elementary School.

There were also 36 restaurants participating in the Food Revolution 2013. They each featured a unique, fresh, local special for the weekend. The support was very impressive with posters, table tents and cards provided to diners to explain the importance of food education. Much of this information went home with them where they could share it with family and improve how they eat.

We think Jamie Oliver was pretty impressed with Ann and her Edible Education work too. She is featured on his website at this link. What a great way to spread the word about healthier eating!

Thanks to Ann and all of those who participated in Food Revolution Day 2013 – now let’s turn this into Food Revolution Year 2013! Eating healthier and being more active is all part of raising kids in the Richmond area. We CAN make a difference!

For more information for kids and adults who want to grow your own food, cook healthier, and eat better, click here.